Monday, August 18, 2014

Long Time..No See

Honestly, Daisy felt she'd been held hostage all summer with the baby. Sure, Max took turns. He was just as much taking baby duties as she was, but at least he escaped for a little while to the grocery store. Even so, he didn't work long hours. He did his afternoon four hour shifts and came back to give her a chance to breathe.

Who would have thought someone so dainty and tiny could have a pair a lungs that could cry the night away. At least, those days were over, hopefully. But Daisy didn't count on it getting any easier. Besides, she was registering for college. Granted, she should have done a lot of it online, but here she was in the herd on campus, checking out where classes would be.

She felt so alone now. Not a part of anything, but her Dad told her to be brave. She could do this. She needed to get out and enjoy life.

Max had one more year of high school. Yes, it was true, she was older, but no wiser. Definitely, not wiser. Instead, she felt clueless. She believed this had to be the worst decision she'd ever made in her life, and then she noticed his hair. It was Hutch, who was up ahead.

A part of her hoped he didn't see her. She didn't feel as if she was all that put together, even in her denim shorts. Her legs were pale and she did not feel like the girl she remembered in high school.

Hutch looked back and he waved. He motioned her to come up the line. She shook her head, no. She did not want trouble so he walked back to where she was in line.

"What are you doing here?" She couldn't help but ask. It had been so long. When she said she didn't want to see him anymore, he hadn't called or anything.

"Oh, I got talked in to taking some classes. I had no idea I'd have to come down here to get an ID." His smile was as happy as she remembered. He asked about the baby. Of course, she couldn't help but get out her phone and show her pictures of Mandy. Of course, there were pictures of Max holding the baby.

"She's gonna be a looker." He told her.

She smiled back wishing she hadn't told him to stay away.

"So, how have you been?" She wanted to know.

"About the same." He was his calm self. "Still at Omaha Steaks." He shrugged. "But uh.." He acted as if he didn't really want to talk about it. "...this girl moved in with me. I don't think, you know her." He sighed. "We fuss a good bit of the time, but then you know, we make up too." He chuckled. "Anyway, it was Kera's idea I take this music program."

"What are you gonna do?" Daisy winced as she tried not to falter to the fact that Hutch was with someone now. "Teach music?"

"Not like that. Its to learn about the recording industry. You know, be a mixer. That kind of stuff." He nodded.

She wondered then if he did everything for Kera now. Daisy felt a little sad for him, but he kept smiling like he didn't know any better.